Watchdog: Charge against protest reporter should be tossed

Published
4:24 am CDT, Tuesday, September 13, 2016

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — A broadcast journalist reporting on a protest against the Dakota Access pipeline has been charged with criminal trespass in North Dakota, and an international watchdog is calling for the misdemeanor to be dropped.

Court records show Amy Goodman, the host of independent news program "Democracy Now," was charged Thursday. A warrant for her arrest was issued in Morton County.

Carlos Lauria is senior program coordinator for the Americas with the Committee to Protect Journalists. Lauria says the warrant is "a transparent attempt to intimidate reporters from covering protests of significant public interest."

The Bismarck Tribune reports court documents show the New York-based Goodman was charged based on video footage of a protest on private property during Labor Day weekend.

Goodman reported on a clash between private security guards and protesters.